1. Swarovski Bauble Handmade Christmas Card Tutorial
This tutorial was created by Crystal and Glass Beads
If you create your own personalised handmade cards Swarovski flatback crystals can be the perfect addition for adding a bit of sparkle. Below you will find some ideas for creating Christmas Cards using 145 x145mm (6″x6″ Approx) greeting card blanks. The templates for printing the inserts and card outlines for for both centre and right aligned printing can be found below. The templates are also editable for copying and pasting the content onto larger or different shaped templates. You can use both HOTFIX or non hotfix crystals for creating greetings cards but for the purpose of this tutorial we have used non-hotfix with a suitable adhesive.
The completed Swarovski bauble card
1. What you will need:
- A … Download and print the template: Right aligned template or Centre aligned template using 145 x145mm (6″x6″ Approx) greeting card blanks
- B … A suitable adhesive, for this tutorial we are using Gemtac glue.
- C … A tool for picking up the crystals, Jewel setter, Katana tool or tweezers.
- D … A ruler or something with a straight edge (not essential).
- E … A cocktail stick, orange stick, sharp pencil or something with a tip/point for applying small dots of adhesive.
- F … Flatback crystals 75 x ss5 (1.8mm), 31 x ss12 (3.2mm), 34 x ss16 (4mm), 32 x ss20 (5mm), 24 x ss30 (6.5mm) and 1 x 10mm 2493 Chessboard flatback crystal.. You can find the flatback crystals here.
2. Apply a small dab of adhesive to the centre of the square.
3. Place the 2493 Chessboard flatback crystal square onto the adhesive.
4. Press the crystal firmly into position using the end of the Katana, an orange stick, or end of a jewel setter.
5. Using the cocktail stick apply tiny dots of glue to the first few bow placer dots, then apply ss5 crystals to the adhesive and firmly press into position.
6. Complete the bow using the tiny ss5 crystals, for this tutorial we have used clear crystal but you can use any colour.
7. Repeat the process of adding a small blob of adhesive to the centre of the red circles and using the ss30 crystals, secure them into position. For this tutorial we have used purple velvet ss30 Swarovski 2088 flatbacks. Add enough glue for a few crystals at a time or the adhesive may start to cure before you add all the crystals if you take too long.
8. Complete adding the ss30 crystals, 24 in total.
9. Next add the ss20 (5mm) crystals using the same process to the yellow/orange circle spacers, a few at a time and secure into position by pressing down on the crystal face. We have used 32 x tanaznite crystals for this card.
10. 34 x ss16 crystals come next and are added to the blue spacer circles 34 in total and we have used luminous green crystals. This is a dual tone crystal with both a yellow/green and pale purple colour depending on how you view the crystal.
11. Finally the last size is ss12 (3.2mm) crystals and we have used 31 x provence lavender this time and added them to the green placer circles and that’s the card complete. If you would like to print out an insert on A4 paper then download here: Christmas card insert with text “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year”. Print guides are on the insert so you know where to trim, for best results use a rotary trimmer. To attach the insert once its been trimmed to size. Fold the insert ready and using the rule create a hard crease on the folded edge. along the edge apply a thin line of adhesive and then place the insert into the card.
Again another completed version of the card using Gold for the bow and various colours for the bauble.
2. Swarovski Star Christmas Card Tutorial
1. What you will need:
- A … Download and print the template: Right aligned template or Centre aligned template using 145 x145mm (6″x6″ Approx) greeting card blanks
- B … See above for tools required.
- C … Flatback crystals 25 x ss7 (2.2mm), 38 x ss12 (3.2mm), 29 x ss16 (4mm), 15 x ss20 (5mm) & 17 x ss30 (6.5mm) flatback crystal.. You can find the flatback crystals here.
2. Equipment required for the tutorial.
3. Using the same process as above add the ss7 (2.2mm) crystals to the brown spacer circles, 25 crystals are required.
4. The next size are ss12 (3.2mm) and 38 crystals are required for adding to the green circles.
5. Next i’ve done the largest crystal size ss30 (6.5mm) and 17 crystals are required to add to the red circles.
6. 4mm ss16 are next and there are 29 crystals required, add to the blue spacers. For this tutorial I have used a mixture of metallic light gold and golden shadow, but come the final image you can see I changed the crystals. The reason for this is that the colours just didn’t give the sparkle effect I imagined and you can see why I changed in the next image.
7. Finally it’s 15 x ss20 (5mm) crystals to be added to the yellow/orange positioner circles. As you can see for the final completed card we swapped over to using just Golden Shadow (ss12, ss20 and ss30) and Rose Gold Crystals (ss7 and ss16), which I think gived a much nicer effect. If you would like to print out an insert on A4 paper then download here: Christmas card insert with text “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year”. Print guides are on the insert so you know where to trim, for best results use a rotary trimmer.
The completed Swarovski crystal star handmade christmas greetings card.
3. Swarovski Snowflake Christmas Card Tutorial
1. What you will need:
- A … Download and print the template: Right aligned template or Centre aligned template using 145 x145mm (6″x6″ Approx) greeting card blanks
- B … See above for tools required.
- C … Flatback crystals 97 x ss16 (4mm). You can find the flatback crystals here.
2. Equipment required for the tutorial.
3. Place a small dab of glue in the centre circle of the card..
4. Place the ss16 (4mm) crystal onto the adhesive.
5. Press the crystal firmly onto the card and position.
6. Using a rule to create a straight line continue adding crystals to complete the first line of the snowflake.
7. Start the second line of ss16 crystals, keeping the line straight with the rule..
8. Continue working around the card clockwise or anti clockwise creating straight lines of ss16 crystals.
9. Continue working around the card to complete all the straight lines and you end up with a star effect. For the last few rows you will likely have to turn the ruler on it’s side, add the crystals and then gently nudge them into a straight line with the side of the ruler.
10. Complete the ends of the flakes and then if required you can print out an insert. If you would like to print out an insert on A4 paper then download here: Christmas card insert with text “Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year”. Print guides are on the insert so you know where to trim, for best results use a rotary trimmer.
Voila one completed Snowflake card using Air Blue Opal.
Snowflake card using Aquamarine AB crystals.
Many thanks for viewing out tutorial.
Love these but they are a bit late for this year. What does the star look like in clear crystal? and could you do a tutorial for valentines cards?
Hi I haven’t tried a star in clear crystal but would imagine it looks good and would be more cost effective if you are making a few cards for close family, friends, or for selling. Yes I will try and create a few valentines cards and upload well in advance. I made these cards a few years ago but until now haven’t had much enthusiasm for updating our blog, but will do a few posts and see how we go. Many Thanks.